A Louisville Metro councilwoman continued looking for ways to reduce violence in a neighborhood recently riddled with it.

Advertisement

Attica Scott hosted a community conversation Tuesday night at the West End school on Virginia Avenue.

It was Scott's third community conversation in her short tenure, but the first since a series of deadly shootings earlier this month.

On May 17, the sound of gunfire, chaos and confusion erupted on 32nd Street where three people died.

Just one week later there was the sound of something different.

Volunteers, including kids in the community, helped cut grass and pick up trash at the very spots where those shootings happened.

"It was absolutely amazing to see about a dozen or so young people pick up lawn mowers and start cutting grass. And to do it right next to members of the police department, that was powerful," said Scott.

And Scott said the cleanups will continue there. She added that a community block party is even in the works for next month.

"Coming together with music, with food, with games with celebration, shaking the hands of your neighbor, introducing yourself," said Scott.

Scott said those are two ways to bring hope and unity to neighborhood in need of it.

It's where Dwight Sweeney has lived for 20 years.

"I think what it's really going to take is for us not to quit," said Sweeney. "As long we continue to stand up and say, 'We're going to take back our neighborhood one house at a time,' and encourage parenting, then we can make a difference."

Scott said that difference can be made.

She vowed to continue working closely with members of Metro Council and the police department in order to do so.

"Folks are excited about there being a positive direction that we're taking out of this," said Scott.

Scott said this summer, she'll be dedicated to getting young people involved in jobs or activities at the Parkland Boys and Girls Club set to open in a few weeks.

Last Friday, Mayor Greg Fischer's office announced the first steps in its strategy to reduce the violence in west Louisville.

One goal is to develop an inventory of all programs providing services to the youth in west Louisville.

Those groups are asked to fill out a survey on the city's website by June 15.